"Spain is simply a serious, liable and committed ally. We will proceed to advance all efforts to guarantee peace, support Ukraine and defend our common values," Sanchez wrote on platform X after gathering NATO head Mark Rutte.
The Prime Minister stressed that Spain increased defence spending by 70% over the last decade. He besides added that his country participated in all major NATO missions.
"Spain plays an crucial function in our common security. We talked about support for Ukraine, as well as deterrence and defence and the urgent request to increase investment“ He wrote Rutte on platform X after gathering Sanchez.
Immediately before visiting Spain NATO Secretary-General visited Portugal, where he met Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
Problems with Spanish Defence Expenditure
Percentage Spain spends on defence the least in all of NATO – only 1.3% of GDP. The government in Madrid had already committed itself in 2014 to scope a level of 2% by 2024. The current plan provides for this nonsubjective to be achieved in 2029.
The Spanish press commented on Monday that the deficiency of a budget for the following year may, however, make it hard for the government in Madrid to meet its commitments within the planned deadline.
According to the Madrid paper "ABC", the government has military spending planned only until 2026. In order to scope 2% of GDP by the end of the decade, defence measures would gotta increase rapidly from 2027.
"If Spain does not want to meet its NATO commitments for the second time, it has to spend at least EUR 14 billion annually to defend itself, and this means doubling its current figures", he calculated "ABC".
There is simply a debate in the Alliance about the increase in defence spending. NATO's fresh secretary-general Mark Rutte spoke in January about 3% of GDP, and U.S. president Donald Trump has late reiterated that he will anticipate from allies as much as 5%.
